Back in the 1840s, the waving grasses, flowing streams, and distant hills of the Dakota plains were considered sacred. Only those children of the red man's Great Spirit wandered them without fear. They lived simply until conflict with the white man began, but until then, the peaceful and harmonious ways of the Sioux tribe were the custom during the time Crazy Horse was born to become a great leader of his people..
Near Rapid Creek, South Dakota, the Sioux dominated the plains, consisting of several bands, with Crazy Horse being from the Ogalala Lakota.. Their size and strength gave them control of the largest territory, protecting their lands from the neighboring Crow, Irikara, Araphoe and Shoshone. Over the years, by driving back these intruders as a reminder to whom the land belonged, the Sioux eventually became the most powerful and numerous band along the northern plains.
It's reported that during his vision quest, Crazy Horse received instruction that led to the way in which he lived his life. For four days he fasted in solitude to open his mind and body to the Great Spirit's word. The young warrior was shown a future in which he would avoid adornment, seek simplicity and go into battle without fear. The arms of his people would protect him. Although he rode closest to the soldiers, he was never wounded. His people assumed he possessed special characteristics and spiritual medicine that protected him.
Despite his mysterious aura and self-imposed separation from people, he soon became the second most powerful leader; the first being Sitting Bull. Although there is very little documenting the life of Crazy Horse, oral history from his ancestors tell how he stood out at a very early age. More fair-skinned than his brotherhood, and having curly brown hair, his black eyes hardly maintained eye contact. He seemed shy and withdrawn, but never remiss in defending his homeland. His story has been long a legend among the people but other information about him was written by the whites and showed prejudice rather than recognition as a truly talented and admired warrior. Despite the abundance of photographs taken of other chiefs and tribal members, either through an aversion to photography or his shyness, no pictures of this legendary warrior exist..
White American Society began moving onto the Sioux land in the 1850s, and shortly after, life changed.. With interest drawn by the abundant herds of animals moving along the impinging trails, the occasional pilfering of a cow or horse resulted in complaints being lodged with the armies who occupied the many forts built along the traveled paths to protect the white settlers. The Sioux assumed the infantry would disregard the infrequent theft reports and engaged in trade with some of the whites. These types of offenses were handled by Indian Agents with great success. Although the practice of interacting with the whites introduced the Sioux to many new things, it also brought to them diseases previously unknown to them, making them wary of these intruders to their land. The Sioux were also wrong in their assumptions about the army and their treaties..
The first dispute along the Great Platte Road resulted because of one lone cow It was 1854, and the sick and lame animal wandered from a Mormon wagon train into Conquering Bear's camp at a time when Crazy Horse was there. Approximately 4,000 Brule and Ogalala Sioux camped peacefully, according to their treaty of 1851, when Lt. Hugh Fleming and a small garrison consulted with the chief about the return of the animal. The owner demanded $25.00 instead of a replacement cow or horse taken from the Chief's own personal herd. Lt. Fleming demanded the brave who killed the cow be delivered to the fort, but the Chief refused. The slayer of the animal was a visiting Miniconjou, and the Chief did not want to appear inhospitable..
It was this ridiculous argument that resulted in General William S. Harney, leading a garrison of 600 men to teach the Lakota a lesson. He found the Indians peacefully camped and unaware of the pending attack, slaughtering over eighty men, women and children. During this time, Crazy Horse was away from camp, training a pony, and upon his return once again witnessed the brutality of the paleface he now considered enemy.
So, could things have played out differently? I think so, but we'll never know because there are always going to be those who need to flex their muscles and prove something to the world.. General William Harney was known to have a mean streak, and his actions later earned him the title of "The Butcher." His saying "By God, I'm for battle, no peace," proved his intentions. I'm ashamed to say he was from Tennessee. We can be like the Sioux an continue to fight for what we believe is right, but will we be anymore successful?
Here's an excerpt from one of my western historical novels, White Heart, Lakota Spirit:
In the
darkness, Fawn huddled with Green Eyes in a stand of aspen saplings and
listened to the chaos in the camp. Hidden by only wispy clouds, the moon
silhouetted veiled figures through swirling dust. Gunfire erupted, and women
screamed. Panic-filled voices sounded in all directions as the tribal members
scattered for safety.
“These
are our own people. They’re killing our friends, and we can do nothing.” Fawn’s
voice cracked with emotion, and she reached up to wipe tears from her eyes.
Green
Eyes hugged her. “Shhh! We must be quiet.”
Fawn
stiffened. Her panic came in a whisper. “They’re getting closer. What do we
do?”
“Sit
still, and don’t draw attention to our location.”
“Hey,
Zeke, if you find yerself a good lookin’ squaw, give me a chance at her.” Fawn
held her breath as a voice, too close, called out.
“I just
squashed one of their little nits. That’ll be one less Injun givin’ us
trouble.”
Green
Eyes gasped. Fear shone in her
wide eyes. “It cannot be my son,”
she muttered. “His grandmother will see to his safety. I trust her.”
Fawn
covered her mouth to stifle a sob. Her friend showed such courage, especially
when there had been no time to check on Little Cloud. Fawn’s mind reeled. People of her color killed a child.
How could they be so vicious and cruel?
The
voices trailed off. Green Eyes grabbed Fawn’s wrist. “We must try to get back
to my lodge,” she whispered. “They’re searching in the grass and trees.
Hopefully they have already been through my home, and we will be safer there.”
She
rose, craned her neck, and checked the area. “Quickly but quietly, run! Stay
low and hurry back to where we crawled out.”
Fawn
followed behind, crouching low and holding her stomach as she ran. Breathless,
she ducked under the lodge covering and let it drop back into place.
For a
moment, there were no screams or yells. Only their heavy breathing sliced
through the eerie silence. “What are we going to do?” Breathless, Fawn found
her voice.
Green
Eyes scooped up all the bedding and heaped it in a pile. “You hide here and
pray they leave soon. I will use the darkness to my advantage and make my way
to Singing Sparrow’s lodge. Little Cloud is with his grandmother, and I have to
make sure they are all right.”
***
Fawn’s
whole body ached from holding herself so tense. She hunkered behind the robes
and listened to the commotion outside. Flaming torches lit the skies and cast
shadows of the marauders on the lodge walls. Booming voices of the soldiers
filled the air. They were everywhere--some near, some far. Occasionally, a
scream of fear or a cry for mercy penetrated the night. When she heard someone
coming closer, Fawn held her breath. Oh God!
A thin
ribbon of light outlined the break between the lodge covering and the door
flap. Outside, the glow grew lighter as whoever carried the flame neared. Fawn
peeked around the blankets at the figure silhouetted on the door. Suddenly, the
interior blazed with light as an arm stuck a torch inside. Fawn held her breath
and squeezed her eyes closed.
“Over here, Cap’n. I found one of ‘em.”
The voice rang out right above her.
Her
heart froze.
You can find this and my other books available at: http://www.amazon.com/author/gingersimpson
1 comment:
Fascinating, Ginger. I've tweeted it.
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